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RIO Ferdinand has said comments from Cristiano Ronaldo that the Portuguese forward did not speak to him during Manchester United's Champions League-winning season were "unbelievable".

Both Ronaldo and the now-retired Ferdinand were key players for United when the Old Trafford club completed a Premier League and Champions League double in the 2007/08 season.

Ronaldo is now at Real Madrid and it was suggested to him during a press conference ahead of a last-16 Champions League tie against Roma on Wednesday that his perceived lack of closeness with current team-mates Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale could affect the Spanish club's chances.

"At Manchester United I won the Champions League and I didn’t speak with (Rio) Ferdinand, (Ryan) Giggs or (Paul) Scholes. We said hello to each other and that was it," Ronaldo said.

Ferdinand, in his role as a BT Sport television pundit during Chelsea's Champions League loss away to Paris St Germain on Tuesday, jokingly replied: "He's gone off me.

"He used to live next door to me. Unbelievable.

"I actually used to take the mick out of him in the changing rooms, I think he's got the hump. He used to come in in tight jeans and we used to murder

LIVERPOOL could suffer the embarrassment of a mass exodus on Saturday with supporters' groups calling on fans to leave their seats during the Premier League match against Sunderland at Anfield to protest a rise in ticket prices.

Two prominent groups have urged spectators to walk out in the 77th minute to express discontent at the club's decision to charge 77 pounds for the most expensive ticket in Anfield's redeveloped main stand next season, up from 59 pounds.

KUALA LUMPUR : Malaysian players' challenge in the Cleveland Classic Squash Championship came to an end after two players lost in the opening encounter of the tournament held at Cleveland Racquet Club in Ohio, United States on Saturday (Sunday Malaysian time)

The country's second player, Low Wee Wern who is seeded seventh, suffered a major upset after she were beatan by India's unheralded player, Dipika Pallikal; losing 2-11, 9-11, 11-9 and 9-11.

KOTA BAHARU : The Kelantan Football Association (Kafa) has obtained permission from the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to register red and pink as the home jersey colours for the Pamoga Qu Puteh The Red Warriors (PQPTRW) squad for the Malaysia League this season.

Kafa president Tan Sri Annuar Musa said white and pink would be the away jersey colours for PQPTRW.

"There is no issue on the colours for the first, second and third jersey. Many people don't understand the regulations on

FRANCE : Manchester City left back Gael Clichy says his team can beat anyone in the world if they maintain their focus.

Manuel Pellegrini's men were undefeated in January apart from a League Cup semifinal first leg defeat that they managed to overturn.

But they had to come back from behind twice to salvage a draw at West Ham in the Premier League a week ago, and have already lost five league matches this season, including a defeat at mid-table Stoke City and a 4-1 home thumping by

Kelana Jaya : Interim boss Ong Kim Swee was confirmed on Monday afternoon as Malaysia national coach for the next two years.

Ong was chosen ahead of ex-Kelantan and Johor Darul Ta'zim coach Bojan Hodak and ex-Sarawak and Kedah boss Robert Alberts. The trio all underwent separate interviews at Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) headquarters at Kelana Jaya.

45-year-old Ong had held the job on a temporary basis since September after previously being interim coach when K. Rajagobal stepped